Contreras 1

Dariana Contreras

ENGL 1301-130

Dr. Sharity Nelson

28 September 2023

A Genre Analysis on a Postpartum Pamphlet

In 2023, Texas A&M International University actively displays pamphlets in Laredo,

Texas, from the Border Region Behavioral Center (BRBC) to share the effects and possibilities

of pregnancy, particularly postpartum depression. One way they alert their community about

their services is through flyers so they will acknowledge and carry them at busy times. BRBC's

brochure provides advice, symptoms, and facts, the standard information someone may see in a

booklet, to understand the issue. Border Region Behavioral Center uses the flier genre to show

the side effects of postpartum depression, a medical condition many women go through after

giving birth. They demonstrate this by tailoring the aspects of a pamphlet in an order that the

audience may follow through from opening the brochure and giving attention to the most

prominent features, which are the title, subtitles, and lists.

The title serves as a critical focal point in the pamphlet, strategically made to captivate

the attention of women or individuals concerned about postpartum depression. The title is on the

first page of the pamphlet that catches women’s attention or someone concerned about a woman

who can encounter this. Having “Is It Just The “Baby Blues Or Is It Postpartum Depression?”

attracts people seeking help for their mental health after pregnancy. A reader can assume what

will be shown inside with the title and either stay engaged or not. With the title, the audience will
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mainly attract a woman who is uncertain of their emotions. The woman would most likely

expect to be informed inside the pamphlet to determine if they have this medical condition.

The strategic use of subtitles, such as 'Resources,' 'Baby Blues,' and 'Postpartum

depression,' plays a crucial role in enhancing the readability and organizational structure of the

pamphlet, guiding readers coherently through the content and maintaining their engagement. It

helps readers navigate the pamphlet without much thought and leads them to the information

they may be skimming for. The order of the titles also keeps the readers engaged because of the

developed comprehension the author creates for them to grasp the content thoroughly. First,

readers encounter the title; then “postpartum depression” is presented with its definition below,

and then it is “baby blues” to show the symptoms. After reading the description, a woman may

be curious about the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression. Then there are

resources that women would want after possibly knowing that they categorize to postpartum

depression.

In crafting a pamphlet, the effective communication of relevant information is crucial,

and the example of 'Is It Just The “Baby Blues” Or Is It Postpartum Depression?' by Border

Region Behavioral Center illustrates this by employing concise wording and listing symptoms to

provide quick and clear comprehension for the audience. In “Is It Just The “Baby Blues” Or Is It

Postpartum Depression?” Border Region Behavioral Center lists down symptoms in a brief way

where there are short sentences to highlight the critical points, for instance, “Mood swings from

happy to sad,” “Not wanting to eat or take care of yourself,” and “Irritable, overwhelmed, and

anxious.” This is all required information because they are general sentiments one may feel
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when dealing with postpartum depression. Therefore, people can quickly determine what they

are explicitly experiencing. The writer also adds feelings to check if you must contact your

health provider. They list down “Severe depressive moods,” “Excessive crying,” “Difficulty

bonding with your baby,” “Inability to sleep or sleeping too much,” “reduced interest and

pleasure in activities you once enjoyed,” “Hopefulness, Shame worthlessness, guilt, and

inadequacy feelings,” which advise you that if you are undergoing these events, you should start

being attentive to your mental health and seeking for help.

In addition to guiding readers through the important content within the pamphlet, the

final section provides a comprehensive list of resources on the last page, serving as a main

component of the organization's goal to support individuals in need and encourage proactive

engagement with their services. They write down their center, hotlines, and websites, all with

their contact information below them. At the end of the page, it says, “Border Region Behavioral

Health Center 1500 Pappas St. Laredo, TX 78041 (956) 794-3000, 24-Hour Crisis

Hotline: 1-(800) 643-1102 www.borderregion.org, Crisis Text Line Text HELLO to 741741,

Postpartum Support International 1(800) 944-4773 or Postpartum.net, National Postpartum

Depression Hotline 1 (800) PPD-MOMS,” to assist those who are now realizing that they need

care and are in urgent danger of harming themselves or their kid with postpartum or they may

have other questions to this medical condition that is not included in this pamphlet or didn’t go

in enough depth. Moreover, contact Information in a brochure lets people reach out faster for

support or questions. It leads readers to connect with the organization and take the initiative to

help themselves.
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In conclusion, the Border Region Behavioral Center assists women worried about

postpartum depression. They publish their text in a pamphlet to offer options, symptoms, and

facts—the typical information you could find in a booklet—to help the reader comprehend the

problem. Knowing the group of people they are trying to target, the center also provides a

structure their audience will almost certainly recognize and carry during a hectic period. Border

Region Behavioral Center illustrates its goal of raising awareness of postpartum depression, a

medical condition that some women experience after giving birth, by organizing the pamphlet's

elements to allow readers to pay close attention to its standout elements after opening the

brochure. It's important to notice what genre a community may use because it shows what their

audience may prefer. They chose a pamphlet to get their audience's attention, recognizing that

women have other responsibilities. Readers should know the genre of a written text to have

expectations of what may show up. Each genre has distinctive conventions such as the title and

subtitles, an overview of the topic, a list of symptoms and sentiments to assist their audience in

understanding their problem, and resources to provide more help. These elements work together

to create a call to action that encourages readers to seek help and make changes.
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Citations

Border Region Behavioral Center. “Is It Just The “Baby Blues” Or Is It Postpartum

Depression” Texas A&M International University, 2023.